Three Montgomery County sisters who were recently featured in Essence Magazine say they are working to reclaim land in Potomac once owned by their great-great-grandfather, William Dove, a formerly enslaved man who purchased 36 acres in the late 1800s. According to a press release announcing their efforts, much of that land was later taken from the family through discriminatory practices and eminent domain.
According to a press release announcing their efforts, much of that land was later taken from the family through discriminatory practices and eminent domain. The sisters, LaTisha Gasaway-Paul, Teresa Gasaway-Gleaton, and LaTrice Gasaway-Johnson, say they hope to recover the land and develop affordable housing for descendants of displaced Black families. Their family has longstanding ties to Scotland, a historic Black community in Potomac, and they say the project is intended to support residents connected to the area’s early settlement by formerly enslaved people.
The three operate what they describe as the largest Black-owned childcare business in Montgomery County and are organizers of a large Juneteenth festival that has drawn thousands of attendees in recent years. They say that financial stability from their business has helped them pursue land reclamation and reinvest in Scotland, where members of their family have lived for five generations.
According to the press release, the sisters’ concept involves building housing with a first right of refusal for descendants of the original Black families who lived in Scotland and surrounding areas. They also outline a broader vision that includes community gardens, a heritage center, early learning facilities, and other community-focused amenities. These plans would require partnership, funding, and approvals that have not yet been finalized.
The press release states that elected officials including the Montgomery County Council, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Congressman Jamie Raskin, and Senator Angela Alsobrooks have acknowledged or expressed support for the sisters’ community work, although the nature and extent of that support were not detailed. It also notes that the Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation donated $1 million in 2024 to Scotland AME Zion Church, which is involved in ongoing restoration efforts in the historic community.
The sisters say their annual Juneteenth festival has helped raise awareness of Scotland’s history and Dove’s legacy. They also recently organized what they describe as a Kinship Communities Dinner, bringing together representatives from other historic Black communities in Montgomery County who are confronting issues of displacement and preservation.
The family maintains that their great-great-grandfather’s original purchase laid the foundation for their current efforts. While the ultimate outcome of the land reclamation attempt is uncertain, they say they hope the project will serve as a model for other historic Black communities seeking to preserve or restore land once tied to their families.
